Americas
CIMMYT has several offices in the Americas, including global headquarters in Mexico and a regional office in Colombia. Activities are supported by an additional 140 hectares of stations in diverse agro-ecological zones of Mexico. CIMMYT’s genebank in Mexico stores 27,000 maize and 170,000 wheat seed collections – key to preserving the crop genetic diversity of the region. CIMMYT projects range from developing nutritionally enhanced maize to mapping regional climate change hot spots in Central America. The comprehensive MasAgro project aims to increase wheat production in Mexico by 9 million tons and maize production by 350,000 tons by 2030. CIMMYT promotes regional collaboration and facilitates capacity building for scientists, researchers and technicians.
Mexico wants to remain the maize nation
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: Excelsior (26 Jan 2020)
CIMMYT germplasm bank samples are the basis for development of new maize seeds used in the MasAgro Program.
CIMMYT scientists join fellow experts in San Diego for world’s largest plant and animal genomics conference
Innovations
Researchers share their work translating the latest molecular research into breeding solutions for better maize and wheat varieties.
The Future of Food – Food Substitute Pills
Innovations
Source: Vice (21 Jan 2020)
Seed banks, like the one at CIMMYT’s headquarters in Mexico, are part of planning for the future of food.
World’s largest corn cob measures 39.5cm in Jala, Nayarit
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: Mexico News Daily (15 Jan 2020)
Winner acknowledges the work of INIFAP, CIMMYT and the Mexico Corn Tortilla Foundation to recuperate native maize species.
Working in a method to harness the soil
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: El Universal (12 Jan 2020)
Research shows that conservation agriculture under irrigation conditions increases yields and soil organic carbon, even in poor quality soil.
New publications: Durum wheat selection under zero tillage increases early vigor and is neutral to yield
Innovations
Researchers demonstrate that CIMMYT’s durum wheat lines can be grown, bred, and selected under zero tillage or conventional tillage conditions without negatively affecting yield.
Prevention is better than cure
Innovations
Amos Alakonya talks pests, procedure, and why everyone should be concerned about seed health.
Drought Is Crippling Small Farmers in Mexico — With Consequences for Everyone Else
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Source: Nexus Media (12 Dec 2019)
The CIMMYT germplasm bank preserves the seeds of maize varieties from all over the world, including landraces very valuable to farmers.
What is wheat blast?
Nutrition, health and food security
Wheat blast is one of the most fearsome and intractable wheat diseases in recent decades. It spreads through infected seeds, crop residues as well as by spores that can travel long distances in the air, posing a major threat to wheat production in tropical areas.
‘Demand has skyrocketed’: Mexicans are willing to pay a premium for blue corn
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: Food Navigator LATAM (5 Dec 2019)
CIMMYT study in Mexico shows consumers are willing to pay higher prices for blue maize tortillas.
Corn Fed: A Tortilla Revolution in Queens
Environmental health and biodiversity
Source: Culinary Backstreets (2 Dec 2019)
Food entrepreneur worked with CIMMYT researcher to create a fair market for farmers with surplus heirloom maize in Mexico.
US Under Secretary of Agriculture ready for further cooperation with CIMMYT
Nutrition, health and food security
Ted McKinney and representatives from state agriculture departments learn about relevant maize and wheat research during visit to global headquarters in Mexico.
Kanwarpal Dhugga awarded top honor in science
Innovations
CIMMYT researcher named Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
New mobile technology to help farmers improve yields and stabilize incomes
Innovations
The COMPASS smartphone phone app uses data from farmers and from satellites to provide precise crop management advice.